Tiger Woods hits back at rumours of injury setback to offer fresh hope of Masters comeback

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Frank Dalleres

Tiger Woods has not played since August and last won a title in 2013 (Source: Getty)

Former world No1 Tiger Woods has attempted to quell speculation that he is losing his battle to recover fitness and resume golf by posting a video clip of himself practising.

The 14-time Major winner, who last played competitively six months ago and has not won since 2013, had been the subject of suggestions that his back problems remain chronic despite a third round of surgery.

Those rumours were rubbished by Woods’s camp and the 40-year-old appeared to undermine them further yesterday when he uploaded footage to social media of him using a golf simulator.

Mystery still surrounds a likely comeback date for Woods, who admitted in December that he had no “no timetable” for his return to the PGA Tour, and he is running out of time to be fit for the Masters in April.

American Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III believes Woods’s physical problems have been “underestimated” but that he could yet qualify for September’s contest with Europe as a player.

“If he can play 10 or 12 tournaments in a row, I think he can get his game back and make our team,” Love said of Woods, who he has already selected as a vice-captain.

“Tiger is very adamant he can handle both roles. I think Tiger will work hard enough, if his body will allow it. If he keeps stopping and starting and the injuries keep piling up it’s going to be tough for him, but he is very determined. We’ve seen that.”